Pahari Chhatra Parishad has submitted a memorandum to the home minister demanding an independent judicial inquiry into the death of its leader Romel Chakma caused “due to torture by army personnel.”
Leaders of the adivasi student body backed by the UPDF group of the Chittagong Hill Tracts handed the memorandum over to Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Syed Tarikul Hassan Tuesday afternoon.
File photo: Romel ChakmaBefore this, around 100 members of the PCP and its like-minded organisations observed a sit-in programme in front of the DC office amid tight security, our correspondent reported.
At the programme, PCP Rangamati unit President Kunentu Chakma demanded exemplary punishment of the army officials who had severely tortured Romel Chakma, general secretary of Naniarchar Upazila unit.
On Wednesday, the PCP members are set to observe "boycott Naniarchar Bazar" programme.
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Earlier, they observed a day-long blockade in the district on Sunday.
Several students’ groups of the hills and the plains have expressed solidarity with the PCP’s protest programmes, demanding justice for the inhuman torture of Romel.
On the other hand, some Bangali groups and newspapers are labelling Romel as a criminal to justify the acts.
Members of UPDF-backed Pahari Chhatra Parishad demonstrate in front of the deputy commissioner's office in Rangamati Tuesday demanding justice for Romel Chakma DHAKA TRIBUNE
The army has refuted the allegations of torture, and claimed that they detained Romel for questioning since he had been accused in several sabotage cases.
Romel – an HSC examinee who cannot see out of his right eye – was picked up by army members from Naniarchar Bazar to a nearby camp on April 5 and handed over to the police the following day.
Police admitted him to Chittagong Medical College Hospital the same day with chest pain. He died on April 19 while undergoing treatment.
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UPDF and PCP have demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the incident, punishment for Naniarchar Zone Commander Md Bahlul Alam and his associates, compensation for Romel’s family, and an end to torture and harassment of the indigenous peoples in the name of security drives in the CHT.
On April 6, Romel’s father
Binoy Kanti Chakma wrote to the National Human Rights Commission chairman demanding justice, as the family had not been allowed to meet him at the hospital.